Stereotyping apparatus



Ndv. 19, 1929.

J. A. LUTHER STEREO'I'YPING APPARATUS Fild April 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l NVENTOR ATTORN EY-S J. A. LUTHER STEREOTYPING APPARATUS Nov. 1 9, 1929.

Filed April 16. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 casting bed and a melting various dimensions are I against a mat mounted within the c t: tal position;

i Fig. 1 but Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASSIG-NOR TO PUBLISHERS AUTOCASTER srnnnoryrme APPARATUS Application filed April 16,

This invention relates to stereotyping apparatus and has for an object the provision oi certain improvements in such apparatus whereby the casting of printing plates of various dimensions may be facilitated. More particularly the invention relates to stereotyping apparatus of the type in which the casting boX and melting pot are rigidly connected and movable as a unit from a substan tially horizontal position to an inclined posi tion in which the molten metal flows directly from the melting pot into the casting box.

' Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a lower platen or pot rigidly connected together to form a unit which is mounted for tilting movement about a horizontal axis.

Gauges and an upper platen which together with the lower platen form casting boxes of provided, and means are provided for controlling the flow of metal from the melting pot into the casting box, and for directing the metal in the form of a sheet asting box. Improved means are provided for heating the apparatus, and an improved mounting for the upper platen is provided.

The invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, and showing the hit able portion of the apparatus in its horizon- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially centrally through the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the apparatus shown in showing the upper platen moved to aninoperative position;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a plan of the melting pot collar or shimfor use in conjunction with relatively thick gauges. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comof the lower platen,

1928. Serial No. 270,214.

prises a lower platen or casting bed which is tiltably supported by horizontal lugs 11 in bearings formed in triangular supporting members 12. A melting pot 13 is formed integrally with the lower platen or casting bed, and it is so disposed that when the apparatus is tilted its contents will tend to discharge in the direction of the lower platen. An upper platen 14 extends substantially entirely over the lower platen and the melting pot and forms a cover for the melting pot and one wall of the casting box of the apparatus. The upper platen is adjustably supported by a horizontal arm 15 which is pivotally mounted on a post 16 for movement about a vertical axis. A wall or casing 17 is attached to and surrounds the melting pot in spaced relation thereto to form a main heating chamber for the reception ofa suitable heating element, such as, for example, an electric heating element 20. Suitable connections 21 are provided for supplying current to the heating element 20. A preheating chamber 22 is formed in the lower platen and communicates with the mainheating chamber formed by the wall of the melting pot and the casing 17 surrounding the melting pot. One or more vents or outlets 33 for heated gases may be provided in the lower wall of the preheating chamber 22.

The upper surface of the lower platen or casting bed is plane, and it is provided at its end edges with upstanding ridges 24 and 25. At one side edge of the upper surface holes or recesses are provided for the reception of pins 26 carried by the gauges 27, 30 and 31. g

The melting pot is provided with a lip 32 which is slightly narrower than the surface of the lower platen or casting bed, and which serves to conduct the molten metal to the adjacent end portion of the upper surface of the casting bed.

The apparatus shown" in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is adapted for casting ordinary shell plates. The gauges 27, 30, 31, 38, 34 and 35 shown in Fig. 4 are those which are suitable for casting shell plates.

The upper platen 14 is so formed that when it is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and ice " provided for locking 1, its lower surface forms a liquid tight joint with shell plate gauges and the upper peripheral surface of the melting pot. A recess 36 is formed in the lower surface of the upper platen and extends substantially entirely over the melting pot 13, and lip 32, and over a portion of the upper surface of the casting bed and beyond the gauge when the upper platen is in the position shown in Figs. 1 2' and l. The recess 86, thus pro vides a passage for the flow of metal from the melting pot to the casting bed, the portion of the recess above the lower platen forming an elongated inlet opening having a length substantially equal to the width of the widest plate to be cast.

Gauges of difi'erent sizesmay be substituted for the shell plate gauges shown in the drawings For instance, the gauge 30 may be removed and a square gauge 37 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) may be substituted for the square gauge 34;; gauges of different lengths may be substituted for the gauge 33; and the gauge 34 may be moved to any desired position on the casting bed. Thus, plates of any desired length or width, within the limits of the particular apparatus being used, may be cast.

in making plates of shorter length than the casting bed, I have found it desirable at times to dispense with the gauge 83 and make full length castings. According to this procedure, very little additional metal is used and considerable time may be saved in setting up. The extra length casting may be quickly and easily trimmed to providea plate of the proper size.

Plates of any desired thickness such as type high plates may be cast by providing gauges of the proper thickness and by providing a suitable melting pot collar or shim such as that illustrated in Fig. 5. Collars or shims such as those illustrated in Fig. 5, when placed imposition between the melting pot and the upper platen, serve to provide a metal tight joint and prevent spilling of the molten metal when gauges of greater thickness than shell plate gauges are being used.

WVhen narrow plates are being cast it is necessary to provide means for closinga portion of the inlet opening 40 to prevent loss of metal and to direct the flow of metal into the space outlined by the gauges. For this purpose the gauge 35eXtends entirely across the lower platen and a valve strip 11 cooperates therewith. The gauge 35 is preterably pivotallyattached to the lower platen adjacent one end, and its opposite end is shaped to form ahandle 42. The valve ll is, in the'form of a slotted or recessed strip of metal of a thickness equal to the thick-' nessof the gauges, and'it isa dj ustably mounted in a bracket L3. A thumb screw ll is the valve 41 in its 2161-.

justed positions. The valve 41 is of a sufficient width to close the portions of the outlet opening i-O which extend outside the space enclosed by the gauges.

A screw 45 extends through a vertical threaded opening in the horizontal arm 15 and is swiveled in the upper platen, A handwheel 46 is provided for manipulating the screw a5 and thus moving the upper platen vertically. Pinsv fi are mounted on the upper platen and extend through openings in the arm 15 for guiding the upper platen during its vertical movement. The free outer end of the arm 15 is provided with a hook porto engage a recessed tion which is adapted portion of a post 50 carried by the lower platen for limiting the horizontal movement of said arm and for positioning the upper platen in proper alinement with the lower platen and melting pot.

Handles 51 and 52 are provided for aiding the operator in moving the upper platen and in tilting the apparatus. An adjustable-stop member 53, comprising a screw and lock nut, provided f or engaging a projecting lug 54 formed on the lower platen and. limiting the movement of the tiltable aortion of the apparatus. A latch 55 isad apted to engage a projection 56, formed on a support 12, and lock the casting bed in its horizontal position. A screw 57 is mounted in an arm 60 formed on the latch 55 and it is adapted toiengage an arm 61 formed on the projection 56 to provide a positive lock for the tiltable portion of the apparatus. A handle 62 is provided tormanipulating the latch. 55,

In the operation of the apparatus, the metal to be cast is heated in the melting pot 12-3, and the lower platen is heated by gases passing from the main heating chamber surrounding the melting pot through the preheating chamberformed in the lower platen or casting bed. The lower platen is also heat ed by heat conducted from the melting pot through the metallic body of the apparatus, and the upper platen is heated in a like manner through contact with the gauges andvthe upper rim of the melting pot. During casting operations, the casting box of apparatus of the type disclosed is maintained atthe proper temperature for casting and it is unnecessary to resort to the casting of slugs or other practices for heating the casting box.

When it is desired to cast a plate, suitable gauges are placed in the proper positions on the upper surface of the lower platen or casting bed, a suitable collar or shim of the type shown in Fig. 5 is provided i'f necessary, and the valve ll is moved toits proper position while the upper platen is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the casting bedis in its horizontal position. A mat is then placed in the space enclosed by thegauges, and the upper platen is swung into its proper position of alinement over the lower platen and the melting pot. The handwheel 46 is then manipulated to move the upper platen downwardly into contact with the gauges and the melting pot or the melting pot collar or shim. The casting box is thus formed by the gauges, upper platen, and lower platen or casting bed, and it communicates through the passage formed by the recess 36 and the elongated inlet opening 40 with the melting pot.

When the metal within the melting pot has been brought to the proper temperature and fluidity, and the casting box has been heated to the proper casting temperature, the operator releases the latch and moves the melting pot end of the apparatus upwardly. The apparatus is preferably balanced in such a manner that the melting pot and casting box may be tilted and returned to their horizontal positions with ease.

As the melting pot moves upwardly, the metal contained therein flows over the lip 32 and through the opening 40 in the form of a sheet directed against the face of the mat within the casting box. As soon as the casting box has been filled with metal, the apparatus may be returned to its horizontal position immediately. The gauge 35 will prevent the return flow of metal from the casting box. When the casting or plate has cooled and hardened sufliciently it may be removed and the operation repeated.

During casting operations the heating means always remains in a fixed position relatively to the melting pot, and cooling of the apparatus while in its tilted position is thus prevented.

I claim 1. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a casting box, a melting pot rigidl attached to said casting box, a heating c iamber surrounding said melting pot and attached thereto, and heating means disposed within said heating chamber.

2. stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a casting box tiltably mounted on said support, a melting pot attached to said casting box and movable therewith, and heating means attached to said melting pot.

3. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a casting box tiltably mounted on said support, a melting pot attached to said casting box and movable therewith, a heating chamber attached to and surrounding said melting pot, and heating means disposed within said heating chamber.

4. stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a casting box tiltably mounted on said support, a melting pot communicating with said casting box and movable therewith, a heating chamber attached to and surrounding said melting pot, and an electric heating element mounted within said heating cham her.

5. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a casting box provided with a preheating chamber,.a melting pot attached to said casting box, and a main heating chamber surrounding said melting pot and communicating with said preheating chamber.

6. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a lower platen, a substantially horizontal arm mounted adjacent said lower platen for movement about asubstantially vertical axis, and an upper platen adjustably mounted on said arm.

7. stereotyping apparatus comprising a lower platen, a melting pot rigidly attached to said lower platen, a horizontal arm mountcd for movement about a vertical axis, and an upper platen adjustably mounted on said arm and adapted to cover said melting pot and form a liquid tight joint with a portion of the peripheral edge portion thereof.

8. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a lower platen, a melt-ing pot rigidly attached to said lower platen, a horizontal arm mounted for movement about a vertical axis and adapted to extend longitudinally above said lower platen, a screw extending through a vertical threaded opening in said arm, and an upper platen mounted on the lower end portion of said screw, said upper platen being sufliciently large to substantially completely cover said lower platen and said melting pot.

9. stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a lower platen tiltably mounted on said support, a melting pot rigidly attached to said lower platen, a gauge mounted on said lower platen adjacent said melting pot, and an upper platen extending over said lower platen and said melting pot and provided with a recess in its lower surface forming a passage for the flow of metal from the melting pot to the portion of said lower platen beyond said gauge.

10. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a lower platen tiltably mounted on said support, a melting pot rigidly attached to said lower platen, heating means attached to said melting pot, means for heating said lower platen, an upper platen adapted to cover said lower platen and said melting pot, a horizontal arm for supporting said upper platen, and means for moving said upper platen relatively to said supporting arm.

11. Stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a casting box tiltably mounted on said support and provided with a preheating chamber, a melting pot attached to and communicating with said casting box, a main heating chamber attached to said melting pot and communicating with said heating chamher, and heating means mounted within and attached to said main heating chamber.

12. stereotyping apparatus comprising a support, a casting box tiltably mounted on said support and adapted to be maintained normally in a horizontal position, a melting pot attached to said casting box, a passage forconduoting molten metal from said melting'pot to said casting box when said casting box is tilted, and means for preventing the return of molten metal from said casting box to said melting pot when said casting boX is returned to its normal position.

13. Stereotying apparatus comprising a support, a casting box for receiving a matrix tiltably mounted on said support and adapted to be maintained normally in a horizontal position, a melting pot attached to said casting box, a passage providing means of communication between said casting box and said melting pot, said passage opening downwardly within said casting box whereby molten metal is directed against the face of the matrix when said casting box is tilted and the molten metal Within the casting box is prevented from returning to the melting pit when said casting box is returned to its normal position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN A. LUTHER. 

